Magistrate Azman Mustapha fixed the date after granting the defence’s application for more time for the new counsel to study the case.

The case was fixed for hearing today and tomorrow but Nik Sapeia had just added two more counsel, Shamsul Bahrain Ibrahim and Saseedharan Menon, to his defence team comprising Zainal Abidin Mustaffa and Mohd Ilias Mohd Noor.

Shamsul Bahrain told the court that he was retained yesterday to lead the team and needed time to study the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran had no objections.

Nik Sapiea, 53, is charged with causing hurt to Mahathir by spraying him with a dangerous substance at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport in Pengkalan Chepa here at 11am on 28 July 2006.

If convicted he faces up to three years in jail or a fine or whipping or any two of the penalties. — Bernama